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Saturday, September 22, 2012

My New Home?

(If this post is horribly formatted, I apologize. I'm typing on an iPad.)

Labor and Delivery. I get to hear a little nursery rhyme chime each time another couple has a healthy baby. I've counted at least seven today.

I went to meet my friend for dinner last nig since our husbands were out of town. I peed before I left...like normal. Then I peed when I got to the restaurant because it had been 20 minutes and of course I needed to go again. But this time I was bleeding. Really bleeding. It was basically like my period.

On the way to the hospital I forced myself not to think about the worst possibilities. But it was so hard not to. I had a really tough week - some pink spotting Monday - brown the rest of the week - and a huge dose of tear-inducing anxiety mid-week. But I felt better yesterday.

I haven't taken any classes or tours (I'm only 23 weeks!) so I had no idea where to go when I got to the hospital. At this point I could feel wetness between my legs. A nice random pregnant lady eventually lead me to where I needed to be.

As soon as I heard baby's heartbeat, I felt immediately better. I was still bleeding, but there was no distress either in baby or me. All vitals were good. But I was also having contractions. My doc said that bleeding can cause contractions and contractions can cause bleeding, so that combined with the ultrasound mean that there is no identifiable cause for my bleeding or contractions.

But contractions are bad because they lead to labor and my baby cannot be born right now! (You can intervene at 23 weeks to try to save the baby but the prognosis is very poor. We need to get to 25 to see a much greater improvement.). I don't know what we'll do if I do go into active labor, buti sure hope it doesn't happen for a long time.

I initially took an oral drug to stop the contractions but it didn't work. Now I'm on IV Magensium which does seem to be working.

Last night I really thought I'd be out of there in an hour or two. Now I'm looking at a best case scenario of 3-7 days and a worst case of now through 32 weeks. I'm most likely done teaching (after only 3 weeks of school!) I won't even get into how stressful that is right now.

My cervix is closed and a decent length. Bleeding has stopped. Contractions much less frequent and intense. And baby's heartbeat is perfect (and so nice to hear).

Neither Mr. GG and I are surprised to be where we are even though we never considered it. This pregnancy is just going to be one extremely difficult thing after another and then at the end, we will have a strong, healthy baby boy that we will cherish.

28 comments:

I had a similar experience at 18 weeks, and it turned out to be a urinary tract infection. I hope it turns out to be something equally easily treated for you, and am crossing my fingers for lots more time for your baby to grow.

I'm so sorry to hear that you are once again put in a very difficult situation. This never seems to end, does it? Mr. GG, you and your little one are in my thoughts. Sending lots of positive vibes your way!

Good thoughts coming your way. Hope they get things under control and you are able to leave to rest at home.

For what it's worth, the year I went on bed rest, I worked the first day of school, went to an appt that afternoon and went back to work for only the last 8 weeks of the school year. (8 weeks of bed rest, a LONG NICU stay for the boys, and 8 weeks at home with them before I returned.) It was crazy. But, I did learn that work goes on without you when you're gone. The school got a sub who ended up do everything, including planning, after the 2nd week. I'm not sure what your contract states, but if it comes to you being out for the long haul, let work go and focus on yourself and that baby.

Thinking those positives for you!! In the end, it will all be worth it. I hope the Mag isn't too bad--I have heard that others have a bad reaction to it. Don't worry about work or getting the nursery ready or classes--you just rest and stay healthy and let that little guy bake as long as you can. :-)

Not sure where my original comment went but I'm sending positive vibes in your direction. I went into antepartum at 31 weeks following my water breaking early and delivered at 33 weeks. Please let me know if you have questions about antepartum...

Thoughts and prayers for you. So sorry to hear of this development. The IV magnesium can be no fun, but I am so glad it is working and the baby is well. My friend spent several weeks in the hospital before delivering at 34 weeks and her advice is to just take it one day at a time. That is all you can do.

What a terribly stressful situation! But what I loved about this post was this: "This pregnancy is just going to be one extremely difficult thing after another and then at the end, we will have a strong, healthy baby boy that we will cherish." I have every confidence for you that this will be so. As the others have said, one day at a time. I will be thinking of you.

So many good thoughts for you and your little one. I'm only a couple days behind you and have been following you (quietly, I don't comment often) and have been amazed at the grace you've shown with all of this.

PRAYING FOR YOU!!!!! Baby stay in there for a longgggggg time! I'm sorry you are going through this as you have gone through so much already to get here. you are strong and I know HE (God) will bring you through this.

Oh no. You really didn't need another complication. I hope that they are able to get your body to keep in Baby G. Hopefully you will be able to be on bed rest at home if you have to stay on bed rest. Hugs and prayers.